Swiss, like Danes, seize assets from refugees to recoup costs -TV

ZURICH, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Refugees arriving in Switzerland
have to turn over to the state any assets worth more than 1,000
Swiss francs ($994.53) to help pay for their upkeep, broadcaster
SRF reported on Thursday, revealing a practice that has drawn
sharp rebukes for Denmark.

SRF's 10 vor 10 news programme showed a receipt a refugee
from Syria said he got from authorities when he had to turn over
more than half of the cash his family had left after paying
traffickers to help them get to the neutral Alpine country.

It also showed an information sheet for refugees that
states: "If you have property worth more than 1,000 Swiss francs
when you arrive at a reception centre you are required to give
up these financial assets in return for a receipt."

"This is undignified," it cited Stefan Frey from refugee aid
group Schweizerische Fluechtlingshilfe as saying. "This has to
change."

SRF cited the state migration authority SEM as justifying
the measure, noting the law calls for asylum seekers and
refugees to contribute where possible to the cost of processing
their applications and providing social assistance.

"If someone leaves voluntarily within seven months this
person can get the money back and take it with them. Otherwise
the money covers costs they generate," an SEM spokeswoman told
SRF.

In addition, refugees who win the right to stay and work in
Switzerland have to surrender 10 percent of their pay for up to
10 years until they repay 15,000 francs in costs, according to
the report.

Denmark is amending a proposal to confiscate refugees'
possessions to pay for their stay by raising the amount they
will be allowed to keep after coming under fire from the United
Nations refugee agency.

Several organisations, including the UN High Commission for
Refugees, have censured the Nordic country for the proposal, as
well as for others that will delay family reunification and make
acquiring refugee and residence status more difficult.
($1 = 1.0055 Swiss francs)
(Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Dan Grebler)